A brief history
L’Eglise Clinet was born out of a partnership between the Mauleon Rouchut family of Clos L’Eglise and the Constant family, owners of Chateau Clinet; down to this intermarriage their wine was known as Clos L’Eglise Clinet up until the 1950s. Throughout its history, the property remained within the grasp of the Rouchut descendents, the Durantou family. The first Durantou, Jacques, had very little interest in viticulture and the fact is hardly surprising considering that at the time there was more money to be made in farming.
Instead of concerning themselves with the vinyards, the Durantous arranged that Pierre Lasserre should manage the vineyards and in return receive 50% of the proceeds- an arrangement that held into the 1980s, when the grandson and current owner, Denis, took over. Thankfully this Durantou has a far greater interest in viticulture having studied oenology at the University of Bordeaux. At the helm, Denis Durantou led this bijoux estate into the modern age and quality has been rising steadily ever since.
